Hey! Just a few things before I let you at it. 1) I am looking for a Beta reader! Simply because four eyes are better than two. 2) I am currently going back and fixing the Hershel's leg plot-hole. Truth is this new season has been a total game changer, but it's also provided a bit of a fun direction that'll be coming up soon, so you have that to look forward to. :) 3) My awesome consistent reviewers (you know who you are) are seriously amazing. Super helpful in both motivation, catching issues, and in making me do revisions before publishing. Thank you so much for reading! Feel free to shoot a review/critique my way. ENJOY!
17: Count Your Blessings
The brief peace I normally felt when I first woke up was spectacularly different in the morning haze. Arms? Arms around me? Not grasping arms of the dead, but ones that were alive: not quite holding me, but not quite limp. It took a few seconds to process exactly whom these arms belonged to, but when I did I couldn't fight the upturn of the corners of my mouth. I didn't even debate moving, I just stayed still and made mental notes. These mental notes were not dissimilar to the ones I made the first time he had slept beside me, but at the same time they were vastly different. Once I had sensed a pattern to his breathing I carefully placed my hand over his, just to try it, just to say I did. A stirring caused my abrupt stillness, and the subtle pattern quickened before the hands pulled away. I rolled onto my back, trying to act as though I had just woken up and smiled over at him.
"How'd you sleep?"
"Alright," he sat at the side of the bed, his tone had hints of annoyance in it.
"How do you feel?" I got up and started to change into my work clothes. When I looked over he was just glaring at me. "Still bad, eh?" I turned away and changed into a fresh bra and shirt. "Well, you're welcome to smoke if that helped you at all last night, maybe putting some ice on it for a while would help too." I walked over and checked the bandage, disregarding how he moved away as I approached. "I should check that first, though." I fluttered downstairs, an added spring to my step, and opened the garage. He joined me after a few minutes.
After I cleaned the wound, which was healing rather nicely, I redressed it and went about my day. First a solo hunt which produced only a few squirrels, then a 'lumberjack' session with Carl and T-Dog. Theodore hadn't spent a whole lot of time with me, so I was glad to get to bond over something. He was by far more useful at logging than Carl and me combined, but he didn't go rubbing it in our faces. By dusk it was just Carl, T-Dog, and me cracking jokes, telling stories, and laughing up a storm. Once we had put the new wood away it was time for dinner.
"We need to prepare for winter." Rick said aloud as everyone ate their meals. "That means stocking up on food. More firewood. And Hershel has a plan for the field."
"Once we harvest the rest of what's out there now we can start to make the necessary preparations." The rest of the meal Rick devised a plan, and made the job assignments. It was nice when I heard my name on the docket. It was nice to be included.
I decided that night I would try to get to sleep early since the next few weeks were going to be brutal. More sleep meant more energy meant more stuff done which meant more sleep. I walked upstairs to my room and stripped out of my sweaty clothes, sliding into a loose t-shirt and some boy-shorts before flopping onto the bed with a sigh. Sleep. Glorious sleep in this glorious bed. I thought back to my month in that beat-up car on my way to this place. Rolled up in the driver's seat, hoping I wouldn't be woken up by someone eating my leg, or stealing my supplies. Compared to this that was hell, then again compared to most things that was hell. Beds, the mark of a civilized society. Beds, the worldly embodiment of my Lord and Savior. There was a tapping on my door. Probably just more specific instructions for tomorrow. When I needed to be up to unlock the gate or shed or whatever they needed first. I rolled up and unlocked the door, "Yes?" I swung the door open. It was Daryl. "What's up?" I stepped out of the way and let him in.
"Tired." He took off his shoes and shirt, and then got into bed.
I was confused for exactly one second before I remembered the most important rule of life; count your blessings. I turned off the light and joined him. I can't tell you why I did what I did next, it must have been some subconscious desire that forced its way to my muscles and commanded that I snuggled against him. But by the time I had realized what my body had done one of his arms snaked around my waist. No scooting away? Count your blessings, Annie. Just be glad and enjoy this. This sort of thing doesn't last forever. A small victory here at the end of all existence. "Good night."
"Night."